Mouthpiece for reed instruments



Jan. 25, 1927.

1,615,549 5 MILLER MOUTHPIECE FOR REED INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 0, 1926 zby y for MYMW 412 s flzz azzzpggns.

Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN MILLER, OE CHICAGO. ILLINOIS.

MOUTHPIECE FOR REED INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed February 10, 1923.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an ii'nproved construction of a mouth piece for a reed instrument particularly with respect to the seat for the reed upon which the same is clamped when the mouth piece itself is made of material deficient in mechanical strength for securing engagement of the clamping means. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mouth piece constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a section at the line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail section constituting a small portion of the section shown in Figure on a large scale for making certain small features more readily apparent.

This invention is an improvement u on the construction shown in my Patent No. 1,449,868, dated March 27, 1923. The construction of the mouth piece in general comprises the body portion, 10, made of wood or hard rubber, or other material than metal, having secured upon the upper fiat face through which the mouth opening 10 is formed, a metal plate, 11, sea-tedback of the mouth opening for affording a flat lodgement upon its upper face for the reed, 13, which is clamped to said plate, 11, by means identical with that described in my said Patent 1,449,868, and which may be described briefly as consisting of a bridge piece, 1.7, having parallel limbs, 17*, with inwardly re flexed flanges, 17", at their lower edges for engaging under the margins of the opposite parallel edges of the plate, 11, which overhang the body, 10, as seen at 11", said bridge having at the middle point of its length and width a boss, 17, bored and tapped for engaging the threaded stem, 15, which is swiveled in the pressure member, 19, which is in terposed between the bridge, 17 and the reed, 13. The pressure plate, 19, has projecting feet, 19 19 conformed approximately to the upper convex surface of the reed, and extending respectively from the ends of the marginal portions of the plate, 19, which are bent or inclined downwardly from the central portion of said plate, so that upon screwing in the threaded stem, 15, to clamp the pressure plate upon the reed, the pressure is applied to the reed in sub- Serial No. 87,453.

stantially radial directions therefore oblique to each other, tending to press and hold the reed with substantially equal pressure at all points of its width and length on the plate, 11.

'llhe change in this construction from that shown in my said patent consists in the provision of the plate, 11, as a piece separate from the body, 10, and secured thereto with its margins overhanging the body for the engagement of the bridge flanges as described, as distinguished from having'parallel projections similar to the overhanging margins of the plate formed integrally with the body, 10, as in said patent, such integral construction being impracticable when the body is made of wood or hard rubber, as is preferable for certain reasons. WVhen a metallic plate is employed as shown for the purpose stated, it is of course necessary that it should be attached securely to the body and also that its upper surface should be smooth without projections of any sort which would interfere with the perfect seating of the reed thereon. In order to meet these conditions the plate, 11, first accurately finished on its lower surface for seating on the flat seat provided for it on the body, 10, is formed with screw holes in two longitudinal rows parallel to the lateral edges of the plate and at a distance back from said edges which will make the holes overlie the body, 10, where the same is thick enough to afford secure engagement for fastening screws; and these holes are countersunk, as seen most clearly in Figure 3, and the plate, is secured to the body by screws, 16, having tapered shoulders, 16, corresponding to the countersunk form of the holes made in the plate, and having their heads extending above the tapered shoulders sufficiently to afford proper engagement for screw-driver, or other suitable tool, for screwing them home to secure the plate tightly to the body, 10, and when this securement is effected, the projecting heads of the screws are ground down flush with the upper surface of the plate.

By this means it will be seen that I have made it possible to employ the more desirable substance, such as wood or hard rubber, for the body of the mouth piece, and at the same time afford a perfectly fiat seat for the reed with overhanging flanges for engagement of the clamps, which being metal, have adequa e strength to endure the stress of (-lan'ipingg Without liability of breaking.

I claim: A month piece for a musical instrument 5 adapted for clamping a reed thereto con1- prising a body having a flat face and a metal plate mounted upon and secured to the body at said flat face with its lateral margins overhanging the body for engagement of means for clamping the reed onto said plate. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 3rd day of February, 1926.

BENJAMIN MILLER. 

